A PATH OF HOPE AND VISION
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION TRAINING
In a New Paradigm Approach to Social Change
At Dharmalaya in Eugene, Oregon • March 25 — April 1
The Cascadia Commonwealth Institute is offering a unique training for those wanting to nurture hope, vision, empowerment, and a solution-oriented approach during this difficult time of planetary transformation. The training will present a holistic and coherent paradigm of development that fosters sustainable lifestyle, global peace, bioregional planning, economic decentralization, cooperative enterprise, cultural empowerment, planetary integration, and more. Course content will balance theory with practical application.
Training will focus on two themes: a durable value base for social living and an empowering paradigm of socioeconomic development. The value base is neohumanism, which extends humanism beyond human welfare to concern for the welfare of all beings. Neohumanism gives importance to living sustainably, living lightly, and living harmoniously with the natural world. Practical approaches to neohumanistic living that will be presented include permaculture, ecoeffectiveness, ecovillages, integrated urban conversion, externalized cost analysis, and green consumerism.
The paradigm of development is the Progressive Utilization Theory (PROUT), a synthetic political philosophy that is increasingly lauded by progressive thinkers. Important features of PROUT include: decentralized economics, bioregionalism, economic equity, cultural vitality, world government, cooperative enterprise, revitalization of democracy, deep ecology, guaranteed basic necessities, humanistic incentives, economic democracy, sustainable planning, and species rights. PROUT addresses the roots of global problems and provides practical approaches to balanced and equitable development.
Course Information and Content
This course is designed to meet most of the requirements for a Prout Institute Level 1 Certification, which indicates competency to facilitate study groups and to participate in local policy groups. Policy groups develop policy studies that address local social and economic problems and they initiate programs for social change.
There are two focuses to the training: the first, presentation of a coherent and holistic alternative theory of development; the second, practical implementation of theory in a design project. Some broad subjects likely to be covered in the theory section of training include:
• Aspects of a Comprehensive Socioeconomic Theory
• A Perennial Value Base for Society
• Conditions for Social and Cultural Vitality
• Dynamics of Historical Change and Reenvisioning the Concept of Progress
• New Paradigm of Governance
• Structure of a Humanistic Economy
• Economic Decentralization
• A Biocentric and Spirit-Centered Ecological Philosophy
• Strategies for Building the New Society
The design project will engage participants in the application of theory to a complex developmental problem. Design teams of three or four will select a project topic, such as redesigning local energy policy in response to peak oil, or designing a sustainable local economy for a coastal logging community, or envisioning a polyculture based agricultural cooperative. Design topics may have application to actual studies being undertaken by the Cascadia Commonwealth Institute or in support of the South Willamette Sustainability Coalition. Extensive support will be provided to the design teams in relation to collective process, whole system design methodology, sustainable economy classes, and strategies for applying theory.
Other Program Features
Optional activities will be available to help maintain physical health and mental balance during the training, including: yoga, aerobic river walks, site development work, and personal meditation. Special activities will include visits to model sustainability sites.
About the Trainers
Ravi Logan is the author of Prout: A New Paradigm of Development, the most comprehensive presentation of the Progressive Utilization. He is the co-founder of the Dharmalaya Center, an active member of the Cascadia Commonwealth Institute, and on the board of the global Prout Institute.
Joshua Smith has 30 years of experience as a permaculture designer. He leads a two-month summer training program in ecovillages at Lost Valley Education Center. A feature interview with him appears in the recent issue of Talking Leaves.
Jason Schreiner is a graduate teaching fellow in the University of Oregon Environmental Studies program. His class offerings have included a course on the philosophy of agriculture. He has served as the Director of Development for the Kansas Rural Center, which promotes sustainable agriculture, and he has managed an organic farm.
About Dharmalaya
Located near the Willamette River green belt and within ten minutes of downtown Eugene, Dharmalaya is a model of urban sustainable living. It features photovoltaic electric generation, organic gardening, greywater disposal, rainwater catchment, passive solar design, permaculture landscaping, a pond/swale water system, solar and on-demand water heaters, a strawbale structure with earthen plaster walls, use of recycled and natural building materials; extensive composting and recycling, a cob structure, and forest gardening. Dharmalaya serves as a community center for spiritual upliftment, ecological living, social transformation, community events, and human development. For information see www.dharmalaya.org.
Registration and Accommodations
Registration fee: $175 for out of town; $200 for in town.
Lodging and food: $200
Alternative transportation discount: $5.00 deduction per day.
Work trade and fee reductions: Work exchange can be arranged. Fee reductions are
available to those engaged in Cascadian Commonwealth Institute activities, and is
free to those facing socioeconomic disadvantage.
Food: Lunch will be provided to all participants, and full meals to those staying on-site.
Meals will be vegetarian, with non-dairy options available.
Lodging: Those wishing to stay on-site during training can stay in the Dharmalaya dormitory space. The lodging rate is less than that at a youth hostel.
For further information call 541-342-7621 or email ravi@dharmalaya.org.
|
